Presenting the 2013 NCB Vegas Nightclub Award Winner Profiles

Nightclub & Bar is proud to showcase a selection of shining examples of originality, artistry, enterprise and prosperity — qualities essential to not only surviving but thriving in the modern Las Vegas nightlife industry.

A big shout out goes out to all of this year’s competitors as well as the judges who carefully considered hundreds of entries. The Nightclub Awards profiles can be viewed HERE and the Bar Award profiles HERE.

Dayclub of the Year: Marquee, Cosmopolitan
Energy and excitement are two words that are drastically understated when describing Marquee Dayclub; the party of Marquee Nightclub was brought outdoors to bask in the Las Vegas sunlight. Sporting 60,000 square feet, the Dayclub has space for its many unique features. Marquee Dayclub has two pools, several bars and a gaming area. There are also luxurious bungalows complete with overnight quarters and open-air party decks and cabanas with infinity edge pools ensuring guests a comfortable relaxation area to recharge for the raging uproar that is Marquee Dayclub.

Sunday may be a relaxation day for some, but the partygoers of Marquee Dayclub know that once Sunday rolls around, it’s time for Wet Wonderland! Wet Wonderland is a weekly party which Insomniac holds every Sunday. The combination of Marquee’s reputation for leading the electronic dance music scene and Insomniac’s history as a pioneering producer of the world’s most prominent and innovative electronic dance music results provides fans with the ultimate clubbing experience and has made Wet Wonderland a must see (every week) event.

The season debuted with a special DJ set from Avicii while Kaskade headlined the first Wet Wonderland. Programming throughout the season was highlighted by Marquee Nightclub & Dayclub resident DJs encompassing the world’s premier electronic music talent, including renowned performers such as Above & Beyond, Benny Benassi, and EDX, just to name a few. Marquee Dayclub has created the ultimate pool party filled with music, drinks, and plenty of fun loving partiers ready to take part in the revelry.

Mega-Club of the Year: XS, Wynn
With 2012 being acknowledged as the year of dance music’s revolution, XS nightclub embraced the shift in music by signing 35 headlining EDM superstars to an exclusive year-long roster. Performers such as David Guetta and deadmau5 graced the stage of XS each night. Dubbed “Las Vegas’ dance music mecca” by MTV, XS took the nightclub party to an entirely new level with its events line-up. From the three year anniversary party with Skrillex, fresh off his five Grammy Award nominations, to Memorial Day weekend where the DJ booth turned into a rotating door of the world’s most highly acclaimed artists for four consecutive nights, it was clear XS was the spot to see and be seen yet again. In July, Rolling Stone dedicated its first issue to EDM with resident DJ deadmau5 posing on the cover, the first artist of the genre to ever have the honor. Inside, the editorial staff named XS one of the top clubs, calling it “the Yankees of nightlife.”

XS provides an elegant and passionate club environment that surrounds Encore’s sparkling pool. The venue is inspired by the sexy curves of the human body and decorated in rich gold, black, bronze and browns. The interior of XS embodies sophistication; an illuminated outdoor pool, island bar, and 10 foot rotating chandelier are only a few examples of XS exemplifying class.

To add the exquisite design, XS upped the bar in production with the introduction of its new stage. The latest update includes nine different LED screens, featuring a resolution is 10mm for a total of 206 tiles, offering custom shows for each headlining artist. Confetti cannons, streamer explosions, Cryo jets, lasers, smoke machines and more add to the energy on the dance floor as the music takes each guest on a trance-like journey throughout the night. XS nightclub has raised the bar for nightclubs and has claimed their spot as the go to nightclub in Vegas.

New Club of the Year: Hyde, Bellagio
Hyde Bellagio, the first Las Vegas nightlife venture by renowned hospitality leader sbe, boasts a seamless indoor/outdoor space and an expansive terrace showcasing Las Vegas’ most-celebrated landmark, the Fountains of Bellagio. The lavish space was contrived to resemble an opulent Italian villa lost centuries ago, filled with the worldly treasures of a famed Renaissance artist and complemented by Italian marbles, reclaimed woods, exquisite chandeliers and towering glass doors that lead to a secluded Tuscan garden.

Hyde Bellagio introduces an exclusive early-evening experience beginning at 5 p.m., highlighted by an award-winning mixology program and a menu of gourmet small plates from Circo. Unlike any experience in Las Vegas, Hyde introduces sbe’s proprietary mixology cart that essentially enables its servers to bring the full bar experience to a guest’s table ranging from eight different kinds of Bellinis to liquid nitrogen cocktails, among others. The tableside mixology experience is interactive and delivers a new experience to Las Vegas guests.

Long after the sun sets, Hyde Bellagio transforms into Vegas’ hottest nightlife destination with 40 VIP tables, two sleek bars, artfully costumed dancers, a diverse rotation of DJs, live performances and the city’s most exclusive clientele. Hyde surpasses industry standards in customer service with innovative V.I.P. bottle delivery.

Hyde prides itself on creating the best possible experience for guests. The culture of the company is to strive to provide an experience, as opposed to a "transaction." Hyde wants to provide a special time to remember, whether it be a special cocktail, the feeling a guest gets when 50 pounds of confetti are shot over the entire venue with the music blasting, or just a sincere and genuine thank you by an employee as they walk out the door.

Nightclub of the Year: 1OAK, The Mirage
Bringing a New York nightlife experience to Las Vegas, 1 OAK has already made a strong impression on club-goers around the world. 1 OAK brings a unique combination of art, fashion, and celebrity status to the nightclub world. Located in The Mirage Hotel & Casino, 1 OAK has given Las Vegas Nightclubs a New York spin with its Avant-garde artwork and design.

Within its 16,000-square-feet are two separate rooms which each contain their own full-service bar and DJ booth. Having two rooms competing for the attention and energy of each patron leads to a party that exceeds everyone’s expectations.

Expect the unexpected at 1 OAK Nightclub – impromptu performances from the hottest up-and-coming talents in music, unannounced appearances from A-list celebrities, and surprises that create a truly one-of-a Kind experience every night. 1OAK strives to create an environment that is amicable and unpredictable, celebrating creativity, energy and individuality rather than wallets full of cash.

Ongoing Promotion/Party/Event of the Year: XIV Vegas Sessions at Hyde, Bellagio
Since its opening, Hyde Bellagio has introduced a game-changing monthly program that brings a whole different level of creativity and energy to the clubs of Las Vegas. sbe’s notorious day party known as “XIV” is reincarnated at Hyde Bellagio and is applied on Vegas-sized scale. XIV Vegas Sessions is the brainchild of those behind XIV Summer Sessions in Los Angeles, an unparalleled day to night party that redefined the LA club scene and continues to attract the who’s who of Hollywood.

One Sunday a month in Sin City, the Sunset Strip meets the Vegas Strip for an outrageously imaginative party that starts as the sun sets and doesn’t end until it rises again. Themes vary, but costumes are always encouraged, neon is ubiquitous, and the signature champagne showers flow freely.

Past events include a “Yacht Party” a “Neon Circus” and “Superheroes” all of which feature costumed dancers and larger-than-life decorations. With high-energy house beats blasted by DJs like Tim Mason and the EC Twins, the vibe is as electrifying as the crowd is wild. Having developed a huge cult-like following in Vegas with a passion for costumes and a flair for the creative, XIV is here to stay and will only get bigger and better.

Resident DJ of the Year: Lil Jon, Tryst, Wynn
Situated along a private lagoon under a 90-foot waterfall, Tryst is a spectacular venue with a reputation for their exotic cocktails and stacked entertainment lineup. Tryst’s reputation is heightened due to the internationally recognizable DJs like Lil Jon that excite the crowd.

Jonathan Smith better known for his stage name Lil Jon, is an American rapper, music producer, entrepreneur, and international DJ who was a member of the group Lil Jon & The East Side Boyz. In 2000 Jon took part in starting up his own label BME Recordings. There he released his breakthrough album titled We Still Crunk. Lil Jon was the charismatic figurehead of the Dirty South crunk movement that arose from the Atlanta area. In the mid-'90s Lil Jon began making a name for himself as a producer with a knack for club remixes. It was soon after that Lil Jon's production style became ubiquitous on urban radio.

Lil Jon has packed the house for extraordinary parties and continues to have an impressive following due to his high energy and unique performances. He demonstrates great talent and creativity by delivering blistering songs that cater to virtually every type of hip-hop fan. Tryst is extremely proud to have this skillful DJ as a part of their amazing line up.

Restaurant Bar of the Year: STK, Cosmopolitan
With outposts in New York City, Miami and Los Angeles, STK is a new style Las Vegas steakhouse from The One Group. The bustling bar scene is the centerpiece, the menu is inspired and the atmosphere relaxed with a sexy vibe created by the in-house DJ. STK Las Vegas is a celebrity hotspot that breaks with tradition, offering a flirty, feminine take on the classic American steakhouse.

With a commitment to creating culinary masterpieces that spotlight seasonality of ingredients and unique flavor profiles, Stephen Hopcraft joins The ONE Group as Executive Chef. Recognizable as a Bravo TV "Top Chef" contestant, as well as from the Food Network's "Chefs vs. City," Hopcraft's inventive passion in the kitchen comes from a simple philosophy: use only the freshest ingredients to craft palate-surprising flavor combinations that to appeal to each guest.

Hopcraft credits the intrigue for his culinary journey to the adventurous cooking style of his mother at their home in Shaker Heights, Ohio. By adding unique components to her Midwestern comfort dishes, she shaped an artful yet familiar dining experience that would become the basis for Hopcraft's own approach as a chef.

Single Promotion/Party/Event of the Year: Spirit Day at Marquee, Cosmopolitan
Marquee Nightclub and Marquee Cares, the charitable arm of the club, joined with the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) and FLIP THE SCRIPT to host the Official GLAAD #spiritday party on October 19 to amplify the voice of the LGBT community speaking out against bullying. Every year, millions of people from across the United States wear purple on #spiritday as a sign of support for LGBT youth.

This past year, the club donated 100% of pre-sale tickets along with a portion of table proceeds from the evening. NHL legend Sean Avery hosted the event, while Dirty South was the headline DJ for the night. The club transformed into a sea of purple, with nightclub staff adorned in the color, along with column wraps and bar top adhesives reading #spiritday and FLIP THE SCRIPT.

The event was promoted through pre-event publicity, social media outreach and a print and online advertising campaign. More than six thousand people partied for the cause at Marquee that night raising over $20,000 to fight bullying and support LGBT youth.

Small Nightclub of the Year: Rockhouse, The Venetian
Edgy and rock and roll inspired, The Rockhouse Las Vegas is the party on the Strip without the hassle. Rockhouse blends the local dive bar with the glamour of Sin City’s party scene to create an environment that can only be described as the first and only ‘ultra-dive bar.’

The party-goers playground features lighting and sound with the best DJs in Las Vegas blending upbeat rock, hip-hop and dance. While the main bar and daiquiri bar feature two-for-one wells and drafts during Happy Hour from 11 a.m. until 7 p.m. sight-seers are free to grab a drink and take a break at its new location within The Venetian that opened in February.

The convenient location and drink specials aren’t the only attractive features of the new nightlife hybrid. The sexy bar staff is yet another compelling reason to swing by the Rockhouse. With beautiful bartenders pouring drinks from the bar tops, playing in the giant bird cage and pool tables, beer pong tables and a mechanical bull, Rockhouse is a hub of energy where the party never stops. With 83 HD TVs, Rockhouse is also an exquisite venue for sports-enthusiasts to sit back, relax and enjoy the game.